The Von Lee was opened in 1928 as the Ritz and was subsequently converted into a grocery store.

In 1948, the Vonderschmidt family converted the store on Kirkwood Avenue into the Von Lee Theatre. The cinema became a haven for art and foreign films in the university town. In 1976, the Kerasotes family purchased the theatre, bringing more mainstream commercial films with them. The theatre closed in May 2000, and that fall, Kerasotes announced the closing would be permanent.

Located in the geographical center of Bloomington, Indiana, right on the border of the Indiana University campus and the Bloomington downtown, its closing was met with a great deal of community disappointment. "Save The Von Lee" efforts have been happening since.

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